8 ME hospitals sue Sebelius over payments for low-income patients

Eight Maine hospitals have sued U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius over the government's handling of millions of dollars in payments for some low-income and elderly patients. In the suit filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Portland, the hospitals argue that Sebelius arbitrarily and improperly ruled against them in a dispute over the payments. The eight hospitals are Maine Medical Center in Portland, Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick, Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, Mercy Hospital in Portland, Northern Maine Medical Center in Fort Kent, Southern Maine Medical Center in Biddeford and MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta.